Combined wire fence and stretcher



W. H. RINGLE. COMBINED WIRE FENCE AND STRETGHBR.

{No Model.)

Patented Oct. 6, 1896.

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UNITE STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

\VILLIAM H. RINGLE, OF VAN BUREN, OHIO.

COMBINED V V IRE FENCE AND STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,058, dated October 6, 1896.

Application filed August 2 1895. Serial No. 557,970. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. RINGLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Van Buren, in the countyof Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined W'ire Fence and Stretcher; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side elevation of fence, slotted post )1, partly in section, and panel of fence beyond bar E, (indicated by dotted lines.) Fig. 2 is a plan view of slotted post M, suspended bar E, and parts thereto connected. Fig. 3 is a plan view of intermediate post B and connections. Fig. 4 is an end view of post D. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the pickets.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in wire fences, and is designed to provide means of simple and effective character for automatically maintainin g the fence-wires under proper tension also, to provide improved means for anchoring the fence-posts against the action of the tension devices.

lVith these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the longitudinal wires of the fence, which are loosely attached to intermediate posts 13, stays 0, posts D D at one end, and a vertical bar E at the opposite end. The two posts D D are placed a short distance apart on the line of the fence and are connected by horizontal brace-bars d. Said posts have each a transverse base-piece or foot e, which rests upon bricks or blocks f. Said bricks or blocks preferably rest upon a suitable foundation of brick or crushed stone. The end post D is preferably made in two parts, as shown in Fig. 4, that is to say, attached to the body or main portion on the side opposite the line of fence is a piece of scantling D which is perforated to re- A firmly in place, and thereby wires A can be loosened or tightened, as desired.

G G are anchor-wires, which are secured to brick or other anchors G buried in the ground. I

H H are lateral oblique braces for the posts D D The intermediate posts B have secured thereto transverse base-pieces b, to each end portion of which is attached an iron rod 1), which is secured by nuts or otherwise to brickbats or other anchors b are side braces for said posts.

As before stated, the fence-wires at the end opposite the posts D D are secured to a vertical bar E, which does not rest upon the ground, but which is suspended by means of two rods 11, connected to said bar at about the central portion thereof. Said rods 11 are 7 connected by a joint h to rods J and K,which are connected to a beam L, fulcrumed in slotted post M. Said rods J K, with the beam, form a rigid triangle, to the apex of which the rods H are loosely jointed. On the farther end portion of the beam L is supported a weight-box N.

It will be apparent that as the wires A contract the beam L and weight-box will be raised, permitting the vertical bar E to move toward the opposite end of the fence; also, that any expansion will be at once taken up by a reverse movement.

0 is an anchor for the slotted post M, fastened at the top of post and to brick or other anchors in ground.

0 is a picket of wood or iron, preferably iron, perforated at each horizontal wire A for the purpose of placing through short wires which engage the wires A and are twisted so as to hold picket firmly to wires A.

The tension on the wire A,due to the stretching device above described, acts throughout the lineof the fence to prevent lateral movement of the posts and to thereby maintain the fence in erect position.

Owing to the provision of the parallel links H and of the slotted post M,in which is pivoted the rigid triangle formed by the rods or braces J and K and the beam L, I prevent the effect of side draft or lateral twist, which is very considerable where a heavy weight is employed upon a long section of fence. This will be readily apparent when the extent of the leverage is considered, with a weight of,

post L beyond said bar, and having in its upper portion a vertical slot which is in line with said bar, a permanently-weighted beamLone end of which rests and has a pivoted bearing on the bottom wall of said slot, a vertical rod or brace fixed to said end, a rigid oblique brace J which connects the upper end of said rod or brace with an intermediate portion of said beam, and a pair of parallel links H connected to opposite sides of an intermediate portion of said bar E, and to the apex of the triangle formed by the beam L, the rod K,

and the brace J substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. WILLIAM H. RINGLE. \Vitnesses EDD 0. KUHLMAN, CHAS; M. SHowMAN. 

